Students and fresh graduates of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta have been advised to scan and explore their immediate academic environment for possible opportunities that could make them self-reliant, rather than look for scarce white-collar jobs after graduation.
The call was made by the Co-founder/Vice-Chairman, Tantalizers Nigeria Plc, Mr. Folu Ayeni, while delivering the 2nd Commencement Lecture of the University titled, Making Sparrows and Hammers Out of FUNAAB Students and Graduates.
He described the sparrow as a small plump, brown-grey bird with short tails and stubby powerful steaks, a bird that can eat seeds and insects; can bathe either with dust or water, difficult to control or raise as pets, possess free spirit and can cover long distances. On the other hand, the snail is a slow and confined animal that easily becomes prey to other animals. The Commencement lecturer described a nail as an object that lacks initiative, but can be tossed about by the hammer, which is a tool meant to deliver impact to a subject by being an enforcer.
“Which would you rather be?” This was the question posed to students and other members of the University Community at the occasion. According to Mr. Ayeni and majority of the students, being a Sparrow and a Hammer, is the perfect combination and inspiration recommended for the young people. His analogy encouraged the students to be bold, creative, read wide, try something new, explore their God-given talents, look for practical applications of acquired knowledge and never be afraid to ask questions.
During the well-attended lecture, the Guest Lecturer shared his life philosophies by enjoining the students to always redeem the time as “time is money” and that you can always work for what you get and don’t be a taker without giving back.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole (Middle,) with the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Senator/Sir (Dr) Adeseye Ogunlewe (Left) and Mr. Folu Ayeni, who delivered the 2nd Commencement Lecture at the event.
“It is better to be a big fish in a small pond and expand the pond, rather, than be a small fish in a big pond and get eaten. Don’t bury your talent, but then don’t make too much noise. Let your work speak for you. It is true about empty vessels”, he counselled.
Using the Tantalizers success story of humble beginning, the Vice-Chairman of the nation’s leading fast-food industry, encouraged the students to look for practical applications of available knowledge for self-development. He commended the peaceful and beautiful academic environment of the University and charged FUNAAB students to catch their balls by doing what they were supposed to do even if others failed to do so.
Mr. Ayeni graduated with a First Class degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and obtained his Masters in Business Administration degree from the MacGill University, Canada.
Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, had canvassed for a generational change, to enable the country achieve meaningful development. He commended the Guest Speaker for delivering a highly motivational talk, which he noted will help the students to aspire to greatness. He added that in the course of achieving infrastructural development, members of staff and students in the University’s College of Engineering were being engaged as consultants in the course of project implementation, to expose them to real life practical experiences that would make them sound professionals.
Earlier, the Otunba Fiwagboye of Ikorodu and a former Federal Works and Services Minister who is FUNAAB’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Senator/Sir (Dr) Adeseye Ogunlewe, charged the students to remain focused, prayerful and obedient to their parents and lecturers, to be successful in life, as he expressed the determination of the present Council of FUNAAB to ensure that the challenge of funding is tackled, to enable the University execute its developmental projects.
Meanwhile, the Commencement Lecture is designed to inspire and challenge students of the University by the exemplary life and times of achievers in their generation, to spur them into greatness. The maiden edition of the Commencement Lecture was held to usher-in the last academic session, during which the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Dimeji Sabur Bankole, delivered a lecture titled, Mentoring and the Challenge of Leadership in Africa.